mutual help in adversity
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to help each other in times of difficulty; mutual assistance in adversity (literally: to moisten each other with spit when the spring dries up, from Zhuangzi)
literaryDerived from 《庄子·大宗师》. Originally described fish keeping each other moist with saliva when stranded in a drying pond; now used to describe mutual support during hard times.
Zhè这
duì对
fū夫
qī妻
jǐ几
shí十
nián年
lái来
xiāng相
rú濡
yǐ以
mò沫
，
gòng共
tóng同
dù度
guò过
le了
wú无
shù数
nán难
guān关
。
This couple has helped each other through hardships for decades, weathering countless difficulties together.
Zài在
kùn困
nán难
shí时
qī期
，
wǒ我
men们
gèng更
yīng应
gāi该
xiāng相
rú濡
yǐ以
mò沫
，
ér而
bù不
shì是
gè各
zì自
wéi为
zhàn战
。
During difficult times, we should support each other all the more, rather than fighting our battles alone.
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Tā他
men们
liǎng两
jiā家
zài在
kùn困
jìng境
zhōng中
xiāng相
rú濡
yǐ以
mò沫
，
jié结
xià下
le了
shēn深
hòu厚
de的
yǒu友
yì谊
。
The two families helped each other through their difficulties, forging a deep friendship.